Northampton, Pa.: Four Murder Victims in Quiet Pennsylvania Town

Police investigating a car crash in Allen Township, Pa. found a driver covered in so much blood they knew immediately it didn't stem from an accident injury. The man's answers to police questions led to a modest house in Northampton, Pa., a quiet, small town known more for its high school sports teams than for major crime.

At the home, police found four people stabbed to death in what police described as domestic violence. One of the victims was a next door "good Samaritan" who heard screams and went to help.

Owing to the complexity of the crime scene, and the town's small police force, police are not releasing information about victims or motivations. The police in the small town of Northampton, Pa., north of Allentown, have transferred jurisdiction to Pennsylvania State Police, who have resources necessary to handle the large crime scene.

The Allentown Morning Call reported today that two male victims and a woman were found when police first arrived, one of the victims the "good Samaritan". Oddly, and according to the Morning Call story, the fourth victim was found in the basement three hours later. That fourth victim is unidentified as to age or gender.

An Associated Press story appearing in Cape Cod online notes that one of the victims had a relationship with the suspect who was arrested after the car crash, according to District Attorney Morganelli. The Morning Call reporter researched property records and discovered the home was owned by Denise Merhi, who lived with her father and grandfather and her two children.

The District Attorney described the crime scene as the bloodiest he had ever seen in 18 years. Coroner Zachary Lysek ruled that all the victims had "sharp force injuries."